The Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) of the U.S. is the political party of the U.S. proletariat, the vanguard of the working class. It is the highest form of proletarian organization composed of the most advanced elements of the working class. It is a multi-national organization of men and women.
The Party takes as its theoretical basis and guide to action Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tse-tung Thought.
The basic program of the Party is the complete overthrow of the bourgeoisie through armed struggle, the replacement of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie by the dictatorship of the proletariat, and the victory of socialism over capitalism. Our ultimate aim is the complete destruction of the bourgeoisie and all exploiting classes and the realization of communism, a classless society.
The Party upholds proletarian internationalism and is a revolutionary detachment of the international proletariat and the international communist movement. It unites with Marxist-Leninist parties and organizations throughout the world on the basis of Marxism-Leninism and in opposition to revisionism. It establishes relations with these Marxist-Leninist parties and organizations on the principles of independence, equality, mutual respect, fraternal friendship and internationalist cooperation. The Party resolutely opposes great nation chauvinism and stands in solidarity with the international proletariat, with the oppressed nations, nationalities and peoples of the whole world in their fight against the two superpowers–the U.S. and the USSR. The Party joins with them in smashing imperialism and all forms of reaction in order to bring to final victory the worldwide revolutionary movement for socialism.
The Party leads the people in the struggle for socialism and communism while fighting for every reform that will strengthen the unity and fighting capacity of the proletariat and all oppressed peoples, and demonstrates to the masses through their own struggles that this system must be overthrown.
The Party, while relying upon the proletariat, continually seeks to strengthen the alliance between the proletariat and all the oppressed nationalities and peoples. It continually works to build and expand the united front by uniting all those that can be united against imperialism and its reactionary policies. It upholds the right of self-determination of all oppressed nations within and outside the borders of the U.S. and fights for the full democratic rights of all national minorities. The Party always maintains its independence and initiative and fights for the leadership of the proletariat in the struggle against imperialism. It is the duty of the Party to point to the final aims of the struggle and educate the broad masses of people in the necessity and inevitability of socialism and communism.
The Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) was formed, grows and develops in constant struggle against modern revisionism. The betrayal of the CPUSA, which became a revisionist party representing imperialism and social-imperialism, has made the formation of the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) necessary.
The Party strengthens itself and grows in the course of struggle against both right and “left” opportunist political lines. The Party heightens its fighting capacity by waging a constant struggle against all manifestations of bourgeois ideology and practice in our own ranks and by purging itself of opportunist elements.
Members of the Party must show absolute devotion to the cause of the proletariat and loyalty to the Party in the face of the enemy. They must be steeled and disciplined in struggle against the class enemy. Even in the face of death, they must never compromise communist principles.
Article 1. Any person 18 years of age or older, who accepts the Program and Constitution of the Party, joins and works actively in an organizational unit of the Party, carries out Party decisions, observes Party discipline, and pays membership dues, may become a member of the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist).
Article 2. Persons who wish to join the Party must complete a brief application and be recommended by two members of the Party. Applicants for membership must go through the procedure for admission individually. Admission is based on the acceptance of the applicant by the unit involved and is subject to the approval of the next higher body.
Article 3: Persons accepted for membership must undergo a probationary period of 3 months during which they cannot vote or be elected to any leadership positions. This probationary period can be extended where the situation requires for up to one year.
The purpose of such a probationary period is to enable the Party to evaluate the new member in the light of concrete practice and to enable the new member to become familiar with the Party’s organization and program. At the end of the probationary period the organizational unit involved will make an evaluation and decide to fully admit the member, extend probation, or not to accept the new member. Whatever action is taken, it is subject to the approval of the next higher body.
Article 4. The duties and responsibilities of Party members include:
1. Conscientiously study and practice Marxism-Leninism and propagate it among the masses. Carry out the line, policies, and decisions of the Party and relentlessly struggle against opportunism and revisionism. Comrades throughout the Party must adhere to principles and have the revolutionary spirit of going against the tide.
2. Build strong ties with the masses, pay attention to their needs, explain to them the policies and decisions of the Party, and be vanguard fighters for their interests. Listen attentively to criticism from the masses and submit to their supervision.
3. Subordinate personal interests to the higher interests of the Party. Live a modest and exemplary life, governing private life by the principles of communist morality.
4. Work for unity; do not cause splits; and be able to unite with the vast majority, both within the Party and amongst the masses, including those who differ with them.
5. Be open and above board. Don’t intrigue or conspire.
6. Be bold in making criticism and self-criticism.
7. Practice proletarian internationalism, oppose great nation chauvinism and narrow nationalism, oppose male chauvinism and feminism.
8. Actively recruit new members to the Party.
9. Make regular reports on their work to the next higher authority.
Party leadership should be selected from among those comrades who are exemplary in these qualities.
Article 5. A member of the Party who violates Party discipline, whose practice is inconsistent with Marxism-Leninism, or in general does not carry out his/her duties as a member of the Party may be disciplined by either a warning, probation (not to exceed one year) or expulsion. If necessary, members can be removed from commissions, leading bodies, or have other responsibilities taken away. Disciplinary action is subject to the approval of the next higher body. Members have the right to appeal the decision to higher bodies, up to and including the Central Committee and the National Congress.
When a Party member withdraws from the Party, the unit concerned will report the matter to the next higher body.
Proven opportunists, enemy agents and degenerates must be cleared out of the Party and not readmitted.
A member whose revolutionary will has degenerated and who does not change despite repeated education will be asked to resign from the Party.
Article 6. The organizational principle of the Party is democratic centralism. Democratic centralism is essential for uniting the Party, preventing revisionism, and implementing a proletarian revolutionary line. It creates the conditions necessary for both discipline and freedom, both unity of will and action, and promotes the greatest possible initiative. Democratic centralism is based on a relentless struggle for the line and ideology of the proletariat.
Article 7. Whenever possible, members of leading bodies of the Party at all levels shall be elected and voted upon separately by the membership, through the process of free nomination and secret ballot vote.
Article 8. Party members have the right to hold different views with regard to decisions or directives of the Party. However, Party members holding such differing views must consistently and resolutely carry out the decisions and directives of the Party. If serious differences emerge on a local level, and they cannot be resolved through a process of struggle with the local leadership, members then have the right to bypass immediate leadership and report directly to the next higher body, up to and including the Central Committee and the National Congress.
Party members have the right to criticize leadership and to make such criticism known to the leadership. It is absolutely impermissible to suppress criticism and retaliate against it.
Article 9: The whole Party must adhere to unified discipline. The individual is subordinate to the Party and its organizations, the minority is subordinate to the majority, the lower levels are subordinate to the higher levels, and the entire Party is subordinate to the Central Committee.
The Party does not tolerate factionalism, either within the Party or with people outside the Party. Factionalism is the method of opportunists and police agents who wish to split and wreck. Disregard for the democratic-centralist life of the Party, the formation of blocs or groups outside the structure of the Party, unprincipled attacks on the Party, its members and leaders are all included as factional activity.
Article 10. The Party is basically a secret organization established to function under the most repressive conditions of the bourgeois state. The Party must function in accordance with the principle of combining open and legal methods with secret work.
Article 11. The Party is a proletarian organization and is built on the firmest ties with the proletariat. It bases itself primarily at the point of production, through the factory cell.
Article 12. The highest body of the Party is the National Congress which is convened by the Central Committee every three years. Under special circumstances, it may be convened before its due date or postponed. The Congress establishes the general political line of the Party, hears and acts on the reports, revises and amends the program, rules, and policy of the Party; and it elects the Central Committee, determining the number of members and alternates. Whenever possible, delegates to the Congress are democratically elected. The number of delegates is determined by the Central Committee prior to the Congress. Delegates to the Congress are free to vote at the Congress according to their understanding of Marxism-Leninism and are not bound by any previous decisions or policies established by the Party or any unit of the Party.
Article 13. In the intervals between Congresses, the Central Committee leads the Party and directs the entire work of the Party, implementing the political line established at the Congress. The Central Committee has the power to co-opt new members to its ranks, secretly or otherwise, so long as they never constitute the majority. The Central Committee is empowered to elect a Political Bureau, a Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee. When the Central Committee is not in session the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee exercise the functions and powers of the Central Committee and are responsible for the day-today leadership of the Party. Meetings of the Central Committee are convened by the Political Bureau. The Central Committee is responsible for making regular reports to the membership.
Under the leadership of the Central Committee, working bodies and commissions may be established to assist in their work.
Article 14. The highest leading body of the district is a District Convention, which is convened both before and after the National Congress. The purpose of the Convention before the National Congress is to reach political clarity on the line for the Congress and to elect delegates. The purpose after the Congress is to implement the political line established at the National Congress at the district level and to elect a District Committee with the approval of the Central Committee. Between Congresses the District Committee can convene a District Convention subject to the approval of the Central Committee.
Article 15. The District Committee is responsible for leading the day-to-day work of the district. All decisions of political line and policy established by the District Committee are subject to the approval of the next higher body. The District Committee shall elect a District Organizer, who shall carry out the functions and powers of the District Committee when it is not in session and shall be responsible for the work of the district. The primary responsibility of both the District Committee and the District Organizer is to give political leadership to the district in carrying out the line, policies, and decisions of the Party. The District Committee is responsible for making regular reports to the Central Committee and the district membership.
Article 16. The Party cells, and principally the factory cells, are the foundation of the Party organization. In addition to factories and other work places, Party cells are organized in the community and military units. The cell is the life-blood link between the Party and the masses. It develops strong ties with the masses; it leads the immediate struggle of the masses against imperialism; and it fights for the dictatorship of the proletariat and the building of socialism. The Party cell elects a cell leader who is responsible for leading the day-to-day work of the cell and is responsible to the next higher body. The cell leader is responsible for making regular reports to the local District Committee and the cell membership.
The main tasks of the Party cell are the following:
1. To lead the Party members and the masses in studying Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought and in criticizing revisionism and opportunism.
2. To constantly educate Party members and the masses in the ideological and political line of the Party, carrying out propaganda, agitation and organizational work among them with the aim of winning the masses to the leadership of the Party and consolidating the ranks of the Party.
3. To carry out the policies of the Party, implement its decisions and to fulfill the various tasks assigned by the Party.
4. To build and maintain strong ties with the masses, always attentive to their needs and interests, constantly listening to their opinions and demands, and boldly combating all incorrect ideas and methods of work among the masses and within the Party.
5. To recruit new Party members, to pay special attention to improving the cell’s class composition and developing new worker, minority and women cadre.
Article 17. When necessary, leading bodies may establish commissions and committees, permanent or temporary, for the purpose of assisting leadership in a particular area of work. The commissions and committees are subordinate to the leading bodies and assist in the development of policy and aid in its implementation.
Article 18. Fractions or special working bodies shall be established to aid the work in a specifically designated mass organization or campaign. The work of the fraction is subordinate to the leading bodies.
Article 19. All Party organs and newspapers shall be under the leadership of the Central Committee.
Article 20. It is the duty of every Party member to read, study, promote, support and distribute Party organs.